Pat Summitt Diagnosed with Dementia

by cocknfire on Aug 23, 2011 1:50 PM EDT in SEC Basketball

Sometimes, the only thing you can really do is resort to cliche, say life isn't always fair and move on. If dementia were the kind of thing you would wish on anyone, it would not be Pat Summitt. She is an icon, almost undoubtedly the best college basketball coach and maybe the best college coach of any kind.

But again, life's not always fair, or it can at least seem at times to be profoundly unfair. And so we get the news that Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia, meaning that one of the greatest minds in college sports will gradually begin to erode.

Rest assured that Summitt won't complain, at least not publicly. She'll continue to coach the Lady Vols basketball, likely very well, given that Summitt could still probably coach circles around most of her opponents on her worst day. And she doesn't really want you to feel sorry for her -- in fact, she'll probably get angry if you do. "There’s not going to be any pity party and I’ll make sure of that," she told the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

So don't feel sorry for her, but take an opportunity over the next year or so to watch a legend in action. The only thing about this that seems remotely fair is that we will have a chance to say goodbye.

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I hate Tennessee

almost as much as I do Auburn, maybe more on any given day. With that being said, I love UT women’s basketball. It is a shame that one of the greatest basketball coaches in the history of the game(men or women’s) is diagnosed with such a cruel disease. Coach Summitt, from everything I have heard about her, is a perfect example of everything that is good with college sports. She represents her sport with an honor and dignity that makes all of the SEC proud to be associated with her. It pains me to say it but, GO VOLS, with nothing but humbleness and love from a lifelong Bama supporter.

by David Story on Aug 23, 2011 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

As a lifelong Bama fan who grew up in East Tennessee...

Every word that you wrote (except that I hate UT more than Auburn) sums up my feelings exactly. I can’t help but root for the Lady Vols, if for no other reason that Pat Summitt IS that team. Such a classy lady, such an artist at her craft…and this news is definitely saddening.

by Dixie's Football Pride on Aug 23, 2011 9:13 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I don't like Tennessee, and I don't care at all about women's basketball,

but this makes me very, very sad.

'neath the orange and blue victorious

by doker on Aug 23, 2011 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

I was a student at Georgia during the Miller-twin years when the Lady Dawgs were great...

… and I hated Pat Summitt for the longest time. We just couldn’t friggin’ beat them, even when we made it to the National Championship Game and had to play the stupid Lady Vols (and lost).

I literally thought that the woman was just incapable of smiling, because every shot shown of her on TV, even after winning the championship, showed her frowning or with an intensely neutral look on her face. And I never saw her smile once when I was watching UT/UGA games in person in Athens, either.

When she passed Dean Smith for the all-time NCAA coaching record, however, they showed a post-game ceremony live on TV, and I saw Pat not only smile awkwardly (almost bashfully), but she opened up just a little bit, you could tell that she is a great person who is just incredibly intensely focused on one thing: winning basketball games. All of her ex-players swear by her and love her to death, and we saw just a little rare glimpse of that Pat Summitt on that night, and we’ve seen a little more over the following years as she’s tended to open up a little more in off-court ESPN-type interviews.

I’ve always respected Pat Summitt. One would be a fool not to. I’ve now gotten to the place where I actually like Pat Summitt, though, and when the too-soon day comes that she is no longer able to coach Tennessee basketball, it will be a terrible day for the entire basketball world.

May you stay at the head of the coaching world for a long time yet, Pat. God speed.

by vineyarddawg on Aug 23, 2011 10:46 PM EDT reply actions